It's a truism across time and space. But has it gotten worse? And who's to blame? See here. … [Read more...] about Politics + Money = Corruption

Here's an update to yesterday's post (check it out for some excellent reader comments). Again from The Globe and Mail: What's already looking like a long and nasty winter election campaign slid downhill quickly Tuesday with Liberal Leader Paul Martin comparing Stephen Harper to a sinister and ambitious Scrooge and the Conservative Leader describing Mr. Martin as the head of a … [Read more...] about Canada set for January election

From the Indianapolis Star: The cheers and tears that greeted about 160 Hoosier soldiers who returned from the war in Iraq on Tuesday did more for their morale than any politician could. Members of the Indiana National Guard's 1438th Transportation Company came back to Indianapolis after serving 11 months in Iraq. Based south of Baghdad, they helped with transportation … [Read more...] about Ask the Returning Soldiers

Cross posted at The Smoking Room All I can say after reading Senator Joe Lieberman's WSJ piece on keeping troops in Iraq until democracy shines is, Lieberman '08! Well, a little more... As high-minded and principled as Lieberman's article is, it's clearly a direct attack on the line of thinking flogged by Rep. John Murtha, the isolationist hawk (think Dole circa '96) whose … [Read more...] about Lieberman f—s over Murtha, the non-coward isolationist broken record

Senator Orrin Hatch's blooper... It's something of a Freudian slip: it's clear there are some similarities now, in terms of public support. … [Read more...] about Department Of Oops

University of Virginia Political Scientist Larry Sabato, in his latest edition of his highly-acclaimed and free Crystal Ball enewsletter, offers a memo of advice to President George W. Bush on how he can rebound. And to sum up, it's this: adapt, change course on several issues (including the war), admit a big error, shake your administration up with some house-cleaning and new … [Read more...] about Sabato’s Crystal Ball: How President George Bush Can Rebound

Attention President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney: your national polling approval ratings are GREAT — compared to this guy:Gov. Bob Taft's approval ratings have hit single digits. But Ohio Republicans shouldn't hit the panic button, a new statewide poll suggests. A Zogby International online survey, conducted a week after the Nov. 8 election and released … [Read more...] about Ohio’s Governor: Will His Poll Ratings Be In The MINUS Area Soon?

....so let's create one!" … [Read more...] about “Hey, You Guys, We Don’t Have Enough Polarizing Issues…

If it's required to keep corruption on the political radar, some Dems are willing to offer him as a sacrifice. … [Read more...] about Dorgan on the Altar

....and Whoopi Goldberg will tell you what you're allowed to laugh at. No joke. You can tell what's going on: Warner Brothers wanted to release these cartoons but feared PC backlash so this way they can release them with a disclaimer lecture, which allows use of its inventory. Couldn't they have released them with a one or two line advisory liner note instead? Or a short note … [Read more...] about Buy A Cartoon DVD

Especially here. … [Read more...] about Reading Can Be Done Anywhere

Visit the Carnival of the Liberated. … [Read more...] about Read What Iraqi and Afghani Bloggers Have To Say

It sounds like it'll happen tomorrow. Read this. SO: Will GOPers who accused Democrats of undercutting troops still insist that announcing a withdrawal timetable way in advance is — as they and administration officials suggested — encouraging the enemy to just hold out and kill as many Americans as possible until the timetable or announced staged withdrawal occurs? … [Read more...] about Will President George W. Bush Announce An Iraq Withdrawal Timetable?

Seymour Hersh's latest piece in the New Yorker has stirred lots of controversy (see Michael Sticking's post below). You can watch Hersh's interview on NBC's Today Show via Crooks and Liars here. And, yes, what is most notable, as C&L points out, is that Hersh believes John Murtha's message was actually bubbling up from within the military itself. Never forget that Murtha … [Read more...] about Watch Seymour Hersh And Make Your Own Decision

Or, all the lies that are fit to spread. … [Read more...] about The GOP’s M.O.

Not sure what's going on here: Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman plans to announce he will drop out of the race for the Democratic nomination for governor. A news conference is scheduled for this afternoon to formally announce his withdrawal from the race. Coleman met with his family members over the Thanksgiving holiday and made the decision... Cross-posted at Julien's List. … [Read more...] about Toledo Blade: Coleman is quitting Ohio governor’s race

Make sure to read Seymour Hersh's latest at The New Yorker -- on Bush, Murtha, and where the Iraq War is headed. As usual, he cuts through all the White House spin and reveals what's really going on. I'd pick out a few key passages, but it's all good. Okay, here's one: "Current and former military and intelligence officials have told me that the President remains convinced … [Read more...] about The changing nature of the war in Iraq

While President Bush spins himself silly rewriting history and otherwise avoiding responsibility for his own messes, Prime Minister Blair, who weekly stands before a raucous House of Commons during Question Period, is about to face perhaps his biggest political challenge -- and he may not survive. … [Read more...] about Blair’s burden

From The Globe and Mail: The short-lived 38th Parliament met its demise on Monday night, setting the stage for the longest election campaigns in two decades, as the Liberal government was defeated in a no-confidence vote at the hands of all three opposition parties and the country was launched into official election mode. The Liberals lost the vote in the House of Commons 133 … [Read more...] about Canada’s government falls on no-confidence vote

You know, this is probably BS, but it's interesting nonetheless... From the AP:KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Authorities in Nepal urged religious groups and scientists on Sunday to help solve the mystery of a meditating teenaged boy who some believe is an incarnation of Buddha. At least 100,000 devotees from Nepal and neighbouring India have flocked in recent weeks to a dense forest … [Read more...] about Who Is The Buddha Boy?